News In Brief

Friday, March 15, 2019

Indonesia says uncovers huge explosives stash after suicide blast
Sibolga (Indonesia) : Indonesian police said Thursday they had uncovered a huge stash of explosives linked to a terror suspect whose wife blew up herself and a child following a dramatic standoff at their home. The discovery of some 300 kilogrammes of assembled explosives and bomb-making materials raised fears that a major attack was being planned, a month before national elections and less than a year after Indonesia was rocked by a wave of deadly suicide bombings.

Ex-soldier to be charged in Bloody Sunday killings
London : A former British soldier is set to be prosecuted in connection with the deaths of two civil rights protesters in Northern Ireland more than 40 years ago, part of an event known as Bloody Sunday. One former soldier, identified as soldier "F',' was one of 17 former members of the 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment whose actions in Londonderry on January 30, 1972 were being considered for criminal charges. He is to be charged with two murders and four attempted murders during Bloody Sunday.

5 dead in Iran gas pipe blast
Tehran : Five people were killed and six others wounded in a gas pipeline explosion Thursday near the city of Ahvaz in southwest Iran, state news agency IRNA reported. "The gas pipes blew up about 200 metres (yards) from the road... Destroying four vehicles that were passing by," Ahvaz governor Jamal Alemi Neisi said, quoted by IRNA. "This was not a terrorist act or sabotage and was caused by gas leaking" from the pipes, he said.

Indian Ocean science mission recovers key underwater drone
Alphonse Island, Seychelles : A British-led marine scientific mission off the Seychelles has succeeded in retrieving a key underwater drone from the sea bed, where it had fallen after its cable was cut two days ago. The camera-carrying drone is a vital piece of equipment for the Nekton Mission scientists as they explore the Indian Ocean depths. Two recovery attempts on Wednesday failed.

Pilot Jimmy Boesen called Thursday's success a welcome relief after two sleepless nights.

US report faults Saudi Arabia in killing of journalist Khashoggi
Washington : The Trump administration used an annual human rights report to call out Saudi Arabia on Wednesday over the October killing of U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

The State Department annual global human rights report said The Washington Post columnist was killed by agents of the kingdom, a close US partner, while he was inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.

Aries (Mar 21 - Apr 20)You are likely to remain careful and watchful today, foretells Ganesha. And because you'll be invited to parties and other social events, your enthusiasm will remain buoyant. You will also strike the right balance between business and pleasure, says Ganesha.